The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated Keeping children safe in education 2021 statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. This guidance comes into force on 1 September 2021 and replaces Keeping children safe in education 2020 (updated January 2021). Substantive changes, outlined in Annexe G, cover areas including: child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment; safeguarding information for all staff; the management of safeguarding; safer recruitment; and allegations made against or concerns raised in relation to teachers. Separately, the DfE has published a summary of the responses to its consultation on proposed changes to the statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. A CASPAR briefing summarising key changes will be published on NSPCC Learning next week.

Read the guidance: Keeping children safe in education

Keeping children safe in education 2021 Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (PDF)

Read the consultation responses: Keeping children safe in education: proposed revisions 2021

NSPCC Learning has released a podcast discussing what we can learn from serious case reviews published since 2019 where children experienced domestic abuse. The podcast highlights the main themes from the NSPCC Learning case review briefing on domestic abuse, including: why domestic abuse is not always recognised as a child protection issue; how domestic abuse impacts children and young people; the need to understand the dynamics of domestic abuse; and avoiding making assumptions about the capacity of both parents to care for children.

Listen to the podcast: Episode 40: domestic abuse

See also on NSPCC Learning 

> Domestic abuse: learning from case reviews

> National case review repository

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated advice on sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges in England. The advice covers children of all ages, from primary through to secondary stage and into colleges and sets out what sexual violence and sexual harassment is, how to minimise the risk of it occurring and what to do when it does occur or is alleged to have occurred. The advice comes into force on 1 September 2021, and replaces the 2018 version which should be used until then. NSPCC Learning has published a CASPAR briefing summarising key points in the updated guidance

Read the guidance: Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges

Read the CASPAR briefing: CASPAR briefing: updates to sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges

See also on NSPCC Learning

> Protecting children from peer-on-peer sexual abuse

> Harmful sexual behaviour in schools training

> Ofsted’s review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges: CASPAR briefing

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published new class resources for primary and secondary schools to help children and young people protect their online privacy. Topics covered include: what personal data is, issues that can arise from sharing personal data, and how to protect personal data.

Read the blog: New class resources will help empower young people to take control of their online privacy

Download the resources: School resources

See also on NSPCC Learning  > Online safety training

Peter McCall, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, is seeking the views of the people of Cumbria to help formulate the new Police and Crime Plan. We would like to request the support of as many community groups as possible, to help cascade the link to the following survey. It is important that we have feedback from as many people as possible, from a wide cross section of communities across Cumbria.

The Police and Crime Plan is based on what you, the people of Cumbria, see as the main issues that concern you most, known as the policing priorities.

Using a combination of feedback on policing priorities from residents of Cumbria, information from the Chief Constable and partner organisations, we formulate the Police and Crime Plan 2021-2024. This sets out the policing objectives for the Constabulary for the next three years and shows how Peter McCall will work with partner agencies to keep Cumbria safe. 

Please click here to access the survey and let us know what policing matters concern you most. Closing date is 17 August 2021.

The Ann Craft Trust and The Marie Collins Foundation have collaborated to produce a resource to help parents of children and young people with autism understand what online harm is and ways in which they can help and support their children to understand online risks.

Read the news story: Helping my autistic child stay safe online

Read the booklet: Sexual abuse online: helping my autistic child (PDF)

The CSCP promote Practitioner Forums to develop and support frontline safeguarding practice.

The forums are an opportunity to have regular updates from the CSCP, understand each other's roles and responsibilities and what local provision is available in their own area.  

Agencies share local updates and speakers are invited to the forums to share information.  The forums are held regularly across the county approximately 6 times per year.

This is a reminder that new dates will be advertised on the CSCP website shortly.

There is an agenda for each of the forums and examples of the topics to be covered over the next year will be:

• Private Fostering
• Grade Care Profile 2
• Unknown males
• Professional Challenge

We will also continue to use the Practitioner Forums for consultation and learning events for the CSCP Safeguarding Groups.  Please note the agenda items mentioned can be subject to change.

Due to the Covid pandemic we haven’t been able to run the old format of facilitating Practitioners Forums. Currently the  delivery is via Microsoft Teams.

You may already have had an invitation to a Practitioner Forum if you have been a regular attendee to a Forum.  Due to the forums being delivered through Microsoft Teams you will need an invitation for each meeting you attend.   If you have not had an invitation or you have not attended a Practitioner Forum before but would like to join the forum please contact the lead for each of the Practitioner Forums for your area or the forum you would like to join.  The person to contact for each of the forums are:

Barrow and South Lakes – Nicola Jackson, Focus Family Officer (07825 011005) nicola.jackson@cumbria.gov.uk  

Carlisle and Eden – Deb Royston, Cumbria Family Support deb@cumbriafamilysupport.org.uk

Allerdale, Copeland and Millom – Karen Ross, Early Help Officer (07885 405708) karen.ross@cumbria.gov.uk

Please keep an eye out for the dates being advertised and contact  one of the leads above to be on the invitation distribution list.

https://www.cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/forums/default.asp